A CAMPAIGN to bring back diving boards on Plymouth Hoe has collected more than 5,000 signatures in a week.

Councillor Alison Casey, who is spearheading the campaign, said a number of businesses have copies of the petition and have been helping to collect signatures.

Cllr Casey says she is starting to look for funding to bring back the boards and address health and safety fears when putting in applications.

She said: “After discussions with different people we have established that around £25,000 will need to be raised to bring back the boards and maintain them.

“I plan to organise an open public consultation event on this to get the public’s views, and hope to reach 30,000 signatures by the end of the year.”

Cllr Casey was out during the British Firework’s Championships last week collecting signatures on the Hoe, and has received letters from people who remember the diving boards before they were closed to the public in 2003, and dismantled in 2008 amid safety fears.

Cllr Casey added: “We have collected more than 5,000 signatures in just over a week. I have petitions in various businesses and cafés, and volunteers have been helping me raise the total.

“At Flavour Fest people kept coming up to me and telling me lovely stories about their memories of the boards – I even met a grandson of one of the former diving champions.

“My plan is to continue with reaching my goal of 30,000 signatures by end of December with fellow campaign co-ordinator Kevin Kelway, and to approach funders about the project.

“I also plan to have an open forum with MPs, councillors, health and safety officials, public health and the local community to have debate on the boards and to share any concerns about health and safety and maintenance.”

To support the campaign search ‘Bring back the Plymouth Diving Boards’ on Facebook.